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BS: Pets: Quality Time?
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BS: Pets: Quality Time? |
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Subject: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Jun 07 - 12:26 PM Not looking for advice-- just pet chat. We jokingly refer to the time our dogs get to spend with us (not in their corner or dog run) as "quality time." Not all of the denizens (dogs, cats) are the best of friends under all circumstances, so time when we expect them to get along and work it out is balanced by time apart when we don't have to keep a watch so closely-- there's a rotation when we're home, as critters are fed separately that need it, and so forth. Last night, for example, I noticed that my favorite lap cat had been standoffish over a visiting dog (who completely ignores him), when he waited till our bedtime to announce his dire need for quality time. :~) 1. What is "quality time" to your pet? 2. How much do they get per week, on average? For us, Hardi-and-I're home and awake about 4 hours each, per day, and each critter gets more than half of that time. The rest of the time they're "suffering" in palatial quarters and fresh air. :~) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: Ebbie Date: 03 Jun 07 - 12:34 PM Let's see if I have this right, Susan: You and Hardi are each home and awake about 4 hours a day? Is this a new development? For me and mine, my dog, Meggie, gets walked three times a day for a total of about 2 1/2 hours and one of those times we play ball for about 45 minutes. Oh, and in the mornings when she first rises, she gets brushed and combed while I make over her. She is not a lap dog but she curls up beside me when I'm at the computer or reading in my big chair. archy, my cat, (namesake of the cockroach) is very definitely a lap cat. As soon as I sit in my big chair he is stretched out blissfully on my lap, his paws up on my face. He doesn't like brushing but loves the comb aod that is when he gets tidied up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Jun 07 - 01:19 PM Let's see if I have this right, Susan: You and Hardi are each home and awake about 4 hours a day? Is this a new development? Not really. We overlap some. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: John Hardly Date: 03 Jun 07 - 01:29 PM It is easier for me to count the minutes of the day or night when I do not have a dog or a cat with me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Jun 07 - 01:46 PM Yes, but what constitutes quality time for them--- going for a ride, for example (Faulkner hates them), or what other thing? ANd how often do they get to do it? ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: Ebbie Date: 03 Jun 07 - 01:48 PM Ah, Susan, now I understand. I was thinkin' that it was a typo but you are saying, I think, that both of you are quite a bit but for a total of about 8 hours a day your pet family is with either or both of you. I get awfully dense. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's Date: 03 Jun 07 - 01:49 PM Walks and tummy-rub sessions, and she gets plenty. 30-45 min of walk per day in hot weather (more in cold), and dad will rub her tummy until she falls asleep. And that's in addition to random petting, talking-to, etc. throughout the day. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Jun 07 - 02:00 PM Close, Eb. I'm gone 4-10 hours and so is Hardi, most days, but the dogs are usually alone only about 6 due to the overlap. But then that's one reaon they have each other-- Ruby is much more F's dog than ours, and happy to have it that way. Oh, she's nice to us, but she prefers dogs. Q-time for Ruby is F-time in the dog yard and enclosed dog porch. You know, I really ought to post pictures of their dog kindgom-- it's ratty-looking to me, but heaven to them! I think most dogs of the not-yet-retired probably spend more time on their own (and in less agreeable conditions) than ours. F has a very funny habit now. He's long since earned the right to be left at large in the house when we go out, but no-- he insists on following us into the kitchen and putting himself away in the dog corner that leads to their run! Wagging all the way-- "I go here!" I think if I failed to hook his gate he'd have kittens. One night they didn't want to share the corner overnight, and started a fight. Exasperated, I went off to start a load of wash, planning to give Ruby her alternate slot in the laundry room overnight. She loves to curl up right in front of the heater and bask in the warmth all night. Well, she didn't come when I called, once the washer was loaded-- because she and F had put themselves away peacably in the corner and were fast asleep, beyond hearing or caring. (They take turns being the Boss Dog and that week, he wanted her position you see.) Yeah, they have it tough! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: ranger1 Date: 04 Jun 07 - 01:09 PM Bandit: AM Walkies with me, beach for at least an hour if I get up early enough or 30 minutes round the neighborhood if I don't. Early PM Walkies with Jason, random route, random amount of time. Late PM walkies with me, usual AM route 'round the neighborhood. Rest of the time at home spent hanging out, keeping an eye out for marauding woodchucks, and random tummy-rubs. The cat gets as much quality time as she feels like, when she feels like. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: Bee Date: 04 Jun 07 - 01:20 PM Young kitty here gets snuggles whenever he wants. He also gets serious 'play with people' times outdoors several times a day - not often enough. He frequently tries to get me to come outside with him. And every evening at sunset I go out for at least twenty minutes of playtime, finished by carrying him into the house where he gets the last couple spoonfuls of wet food, and is in for the night. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: JenEllen Date: 04 Jun 07 - 01:30 PM You don't have to be awake, do you? Sully sleeps leaning against the arch of my foot (on the 'thermostat leg' that's thrown out from under the covers most nights) and I've been told that I scritch his chin with my toes when I'm asleep. Awake, he cuddles on my lap when I'm reading, but only when he feels like it. If he's around when I'm working outside I'll give him a brush, but he's a cat, so it's really his show. Angus gets serious quality time. A good walk every morning, some frisbee throwing when I come home at lunch, a walk at night. Trips to the greenway or a play date with his 'cousins' on the weekends. Also he's become fond of fetching a nasty half-deflated kickball that he stole from a daycare center. He brings it by and drops it, I fake like I'm going to kick it and he immediately drops to 'play stance'. He's wagged his butt so hard it's lifted his feet off the ground. High-larious. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Jun 07 - 05:56 PM I detest and distrust that expression "quality time" and the thinking that seems to underlie it in the media. Children or pets, or for that matter other people we feel some kind of responsibility for. It seems to mean that every now and then we turn our attention from the other stuff we are preoccupied with, and hone in on the quality time targets for some focussed attention. That isn't what children and pets need. They need us to be around when they need us, in the background most of the time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Jun 07 - 06:18 PM Aaaaaarghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there NO thread I can start that doesn't turn to a referendum on my word choice? Look, if you don't like the term, DON'T USE IT. Do I come over to your country and complain about YOUR use of your language????? [shaking head in frustration] ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Jun 07 - 06:45 PM It's a word they use here too. That kind of thing is catching. Actually it's our cats who make the decisions about when to give us some "quality time", never the other way round. Cats are like that. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: wysiwyg Date: 04 Jun 07 - 08:20 PM See, there ya go! :~) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: Bee Date: 04 Jun 07 - 08:33 PM Well - most cats are like that. I had a large tuxedo who never left my side if he could help it. He always looked worried about my flighty habits. If I was cooking he watched every move, he didn't like the bathroom door being closed, he followed me around the yard and watched me weed flowerbeds. And if I sat down, he sat on me immediately. Miss that old fella. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: Sorcha Date: 04 Jun 07 - 09:40 PM Quality time...I can't even begin to answer this. I guess because this is a Dog Centered Household. If we are here, which somebody mostly is, there are at least 2 dogs on the lap or under the feet. Let dogs in, let dogs out. Let dogs in, let dogs out. Let the rest of the dogs out. Try and let the cats in. (the dogs get in the way) Feed dogs. Take dogs (any 2 out of 5) for a ride. They all love it. (Just try not to go thru a drive up window......you'll get tromped on). Let the other cat in if you can. The only real quality time the cats get is when they can manage to find a spot on the couch or bed after the dogs are settled. There are 2 Corgis, spayed, neutered, vacc'ed and microchipped, age 13 months in rescue here. I want, but perhaps I have a bit more brain (or the shelter lady does?) than that.... Mind you, no one is really sure that I have a brain. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 04 Jun 07 - 11:24 PM 1. bowl of food 2. pat on the head 3. sit, stay, shake, laydown, OUT$|%%%% 4. walk in the park 5. washed blanket and flea spray 6. yearly flea dip 7. pick-up at "doggy pokey" when "hodini" spirit infests leads astray. 8. table scraps - mixed with bread - outside. 9. new dog half way through to replace dead/dog in five more years
Sincerely,
Always have a ho in tow...never know when the other will go. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Pets: Quality Time? From: MMario Date: 05 Jun 07 - 08:17 AM lessee - with the five cats; two are firmly convinced I am *only* on this earth to feed them and let them in and out the door. For cuddling and companionship they go to the other two-legs in the house (their choice, not mine); but I am the one they inform if they wish to have the door opened or the food dish filled. the tuxedo panther loves to "steal" my seat, and if I sit at the table I soon have a cat winding about my feet. He comes to me frequently when he wants some cuddle time. The long-haired barn cat is a slut - he takes affection from anyone - rubbing up against anyone who pauses outside the house (well, anyone he knows; very cautious with strangers) and the ramaining one considers "Quality time" to be when I put the food dish WHERE he wants it WHEN he wants it. |
